Esclavitud *Now Complete*

Chapter 12 Explanations and Clarifications

The following Monday, Harry was waiting for Ron in the locker room of the Auror Headquarters.

“Did you bring it?” asked Harry as soon as he spotted Ron.

“And a good morning to you; too,” answered Ron as he opened his locker.

“Sorry,” said Harry a bit sheepishly, “I just don’t want you to forget.”

“What exactly am I suppose to ‘not forget’?”

“Ron, please tell me you didn’t forget? I promised Severus that I would update the slates for him everyday. You forgot; didn’t you? Well, maybe we can have Mimi pop into your house and get it. You are going to have to tell her where…”

“Oh for Merlin’s sake! Here are the darn slates. You know, I had to cast a feather charm on them. The things weigh a ton,” said Ron when his plan to frustrate Harry backfired. “And for the record, I am not the one who forgets his responsibilities.”

Harry looked down and took a deep breath, “Is this how it is going to be, you reminding me what an idiot I have been, every opportunity you get?”

“Harry, you fell for Charlie. Charlie! How many times did you not hear us talk about all the hearts he has broken? I really don’t get it, mate.”

“He always told me that those were stories he would tell his brothers so they wouldn’t catch on to what was real.”

“Oh… I get it… what was real… Let me guess, ‘you and Charlie’ were the real thing.” But no sooner had to words left his mouth when he regretted saying them. He saw the look on his best friends face and he realized he had hurt him way more than what he had intended. “I’m sorry mate; it’s just that sometimes you amaze me. You are Harry Potter; Harry Potter! Everyone gets it but you. Everyone knows how special you are but you.”

Harry didn’t answer and there was an awkward silence between them, then Harry decided to ask something that had been bothering him since that night, “Ron, why is it that no one had ever mentioned that Charlie was married?”

“Well, we didn’t know; did we? Remember how he was supposed to be at your birthday party and cancelled last minute. Well, it seems that Rasha has three brothers and a father that were not putting up with Charlie’s lies. Rasha’s dad happens to be one of Charlie’s supervisors. They made him get married on the spot or it was Azkaban for him. I just found out the day you called into work saying you were taking a week off. I figured it could wait,” explained Ron.

“So, no one actually went to the wedding? How did Molly take that?”

“You know Mum, she was upset, but once she heard the word ‘baby’ everything else was forgotten. It’s dad I am worried about,” ended Ron.

“Your dad, why?”

“He hasn’t said a word about the whole thing. He is walking around with a blank look on his face. I think he feels that Charlie’s actions are a reflection on him. You know, as if he didn’t do a good job in raising his son. I am telling you mate; he is holding everything in and when he finally sees Charlie… well, let’s just say… I wouldn’t want to be Charlie.”

“He hasn’t seen him?”

“No one has. Dad wanted to go to Rasha’s family to show our respects, but Charlie gave him a whole song and dance of how it would have to wait till Christmas. Do you imagine what would happen if I told dad that Charlie took a week to come visit you, but could not take the time to bring his bride to meet the family?”

“So no one knows?” asked Harry with bated breath.

“No, mate, no one; Hermione and I figured it would only upset my parents. They would feel so ashamed that they would probably not be able to look you in the face and we don’t want things to change among you and the clan.”

“Thanks,” said Harry staring at the floor.

“Look, mate, I don’t want to pound on you. It’s just that you are my friend and I hate to see you do dumb things; things that you will regret. Charlie is married and he is going to be a dad; end of topic. Now it’s all on you if you are going to close this chapter in your life and open a new one; one that holds promises of good things.”

“Holds promises of solitude,” exhaled Harry.

“See, that is exactly what I am talking about. You are a young, good looking, single, an Auror and yet you act as if you were Filtch’s twin. Harry, girls drool over the whole Auror thing; not to mentioned the whole ‘Savior of the Wizarding World thing’,” agued Ron.


“Great Ron, as soon as I start fancying girls I will play on my strength,” said Harry with an arch eyebrow.

Harry took the stack of slates and disappeared into his cubby hole to work on them.

At the end of the work day, Harry reminded Ron the slates and how he should not forget to give them to Severus.

***

Three days later, Ron did not show up for work and Harry was simply told that Auror Weasley had asked for a personal day. After work, Harry decided to firecall Ron from his office, just to make sure everything was all right. But when he peeked into their living room he found Severus on the floor by the fireplace.

“Severus, are you all right? Where are Ron and Hermione?”

“Master Harry, I am well, but I am afraid that I am not at liberty to say where my master is at this moment,” said a very worried looking Severus.

“May I come through?” asked Harry.

“Master Harry, I am not sure that the wards will listen to me. I am but a…”

“Severus, if I know Ron and Hermione, the wards will listen to you. Why don’t you give them a go?” Sure enough, as soon as Severus gave permission, Harry was able to walk through and into the sitting area.

“Severus, you seem worried, should I be worried also?” asked Harry sitting on the floor by Severus.

“No Master Harry, there is no need for you to get upset. Master assures me that everything is all right. I just wished they would have been back by now,” said Severus in his most unrevealing tone.

“I tell you what, why don’t we sit on the sofa and wait for them together? I don’t even want to think of how long you have been sitting on the cold slate floor,” said Harry as he helped Severus up.

Once on the sofa, Harry decided that it would be a good idea to get Severus’ mind of the problem at hand. Even when he himself was feeling anxious about the fact that he didn’t know what was going on.

“When will you start going back to the lab?” asked Harry startling Severus out of his thoughts.

Severus looked at him not believing that he would ask such a trivial question, when he realized that Harry had no way of knowing that the present was no time for small talk. Just then both men heard keys rattling at the front door. “I think it is safe for me to carry you now,” they heard Ron say.

“Ron, I am ok. Please, stop worrying,” replied Hermione. But Ron obviously did not listen because they came in newlywed style, with Hermione in Ron’s arms.

“What happened?” asked Harry with a very worried look on his face.

Ron looked at Hermione and then decided it was time to explain. “Let me put her in our bed and then I will explain. Is that all right, mate?” Harry simply nodded and walked in front of Ron to clear the way for him, open doors and fold the bed sheets down. Once Hermione was in bed and drinking the glass of water that Severus had brought her; the spouses looked at each other and decided to proceed.

“Harry, Hermione and I, well… we… it’s like this mate…” Harry looked at his long time friend and then looked at Hermione, “Hermione, are you so ill that you can’t explain this?” all three friends gave a chuckle.

“Harry… Ron and I have been trying to have a baby, but I keep losing our babies. We have tried everything. We were just at a muggle hospital where they have run a number of tests,” explained Hermione with unexplainable guilt in her voice.

“Some very painful,” added Ron.

“Ron, I am telling you, I am fine.”

Ron hugged his wife and then looked to Harry, “They made her cry, Harry.”

“What? Hermione, do you really think it was a good idea to go to a muggle hospital?”

“Harry, it’s what I have told Ron, I have been going to muggle doctors all my life. It is not like they can detect and discover my magic,” reasoned Hermione. “I think this can work,” she looked hopefully at her husband. He gave her a smile.

****

When Hermione had fallen asleep Ron joined Harry and Severus in the sitting area.

“How is she,” asked Harry.

“Resting,” was Ron’s to the point answer.

“So, how are you holding up? Mate,” asked Harry half knowing the answer. Ron’s been in love with Hermione every since they were children. He could remember the first time that Ron saw Hermione in peril. They were only in their second year when the basilisk had petrified Hermione. Ron was so taken back that he over came his fear of the Forbidden Forrest and his arachnophobia to get to the bottom of the mystery and get her back safe. Harry knew back then that he was witnessing the encounter of two soul mates.

“We’ll get through this. She is strong and she knows what we have to do? She has done loads of research. She expects to be pregnant by the end of the month. Have you ever known her to be wrong?” asked Ron with a half smile.

Harry couldn’t help but feel the pain that his friend was feeling. He could see the worry in his eyes. He went up to his best friend and gave him a hug, “No, Ron, Hermione has never been wrong. I don’t expect her to start now,” he said patting Ron’s back and saying his goodnights.


***

When Harry came down to breakfast the following morning, there was no one there to great him. It didn’t take a genius to figure out where everyone was. Harry could hear that he was on the right track as soon as he started descending the stairs to the lab.

Kreacher and Mimi were running back and forth getting Severus the books that he was asking for and snapping pages on and off the board. Severus stood there in front of the board reading and discarding pages with a flick of his hand. Harry could clearly see that Severus was on a mission. He knew exactly what he was looking for and was not about to waste any time.

“So, when do you think you will be able to have the potion ready for her?” said Harry startling Severus out of his concentration.

“Sorry?” questioned the Potions Master, then rectified his manners, “Master Harry, I am so sorry; I did not hear you come down. What exactly was your question?”

“Come off it, Severus, you and I both know that you will not rest until you find a way to get Hermione pregnant. I really can’t see Severus Snape allowing the muggles to one best us,” cleared Harry with a sly smile.

“Master Harry, I feel the need to clarify the fact that my master is having no problems getting his wife pregnant; it is keeping the baby in her womb that seems to pose the problem.” Severus looked down, “Master Harry, I should also clarify that I do not know if I will be able to help my master’s wife. In all honesty, I do not even know what I am looking for. The only information that I have is the one I overheard my master tell you,” said the Potions Master with little help.

“Why don’t you ask Hermione for more details?” But no sooner the words left his mouth that he realized how insensitive his question was. Severus stared back at him with a raised eyebrow. “No, I don’t think you could do that? But there’s got to be a way to find out the information,” ranted Harry in his monologue, “I know, why don’t you ask Madam Pomfrey, I mean, she hast to know something. Don’t you think Ron and Hermione would have gone to her first? I know I would,” finished Harry quite cheaply.

Severus stood up at his highest point and seemed pleased with the idea. “Master Harry, I believe your idea is a sensible one, but I was at Hogwarts yesterday, I cannot impose my presence again,” said the Potions Master coming down from his high.

“Severus, do you honestly think that Poppy would get upset because you visit her more than once in a week. And if I know her well, she will be thrilled to work with you on this. Unless of cause you just don’t want to share the lime light,” teased Harry.

Severus gave him a side ways glance and did not honor his banter with a reply. “I will go see Mistress Poppy today,” was his short and to the point response.

***

When Harry got home from work he was excited to find out what Severus had gotten from Poppy and the fact that he would find Severus in his house just like it use to be.

“Severus,” he called out, but only Mimi and Kreacher popped into the room.

“Harry Potter ‘Sir’, why you be calling Severus? Is Harry Potter ‘Sir’ not remembering that he got rid of Severus?” asked Kreacher as he turned his eyes away from Harry.

Harry could not be upset with the elf. He knew that the elf had all the right to be upset with him.

“I was hoping he would be here working on Hermione’s potion.”

“No, Harry Potter Sir,” answered Mimi, “Severus, must be in his new home before his master is getting there. Does Harry Potter Sir, not remember how he liked Severus to be home waiting for him?” and not waiting for an answer she continued, “His new master also enjoys coming home to a good slave as Severus,” she ended her underhanded admonishment.

Harry did not answer and simply flopped down onto the chair next to the fireplace. Kreacher snapped his fingers and announce, “Dinner is served.”

“I am not hungry,” murmured Harry.

And with a snap of two tiny fingers, the food, Mimi and Kreacher were gone; leaving Harry all alone; alone with his thoughts.

A/N

I know it is short, but I really wanted to keep my schedule. As always let me know if you spot any of my spelling blunders.

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Moon of the Sea